Hydrocarbon-heater.



Patented. Sept. 30, I902.

2 spam-shut 2.

v No. 7|0,|oa.

A. A. LOW. HYDROCABBON HEATER.

(Application mm June 17,1501.)

154: NORRIE PETERS ca. 94915 01146" wAsmNn UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABBOT AUGUSTUS Low, or BROOKLYN, NEWYORK.

HYDRO CARBON-HEATER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters PatentNo. 710,108, dated September30, 1902; Application filed June 17, 190l. Serial No. 64,789. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABBorAUGUsrUs Low,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the cityofNew York',boroughofBrooklyn,county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Hydrocarbon-Heaters, of which the following is a specification sufficient to enable others skilled in the art towhich the invention appertains to-make and use the same.

My improvements relate to what are known as hydrocarbon heaters orvtorches, used for effecting the preliminary heating of theignition-chambers of gas-motors and for similar purposes where heat isto be applied tem porarily and'superficially, as set forth in mv.

concurrent application for patent filed Nd vember 26, 1900, Serial No.37,709, my present invention being an improvement on the structuretherein shown,and consisting in the combination and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed specifically.

I It will be seen by reference to my concurrent application abovereferred to that the rear end of the cylindrical shell inclosing thevaporizing-tube has heretofore been made open to allow air underatmospheric pressure to enter the shell for the purpose of aiding in thecombustion of the injected by the needle-valve into the shell, thecurrent of air under atmospheric pressure being induced by the blast ofcompressed air' escaping from the nozzle of the pressure-pipe behind thealcohollamp, the flame from which latter is driven against thevaporizingtube. Under these conditions the air under atmosphericpressure cannot be controlled and applied to the best advantage, sinceit rushes in freely on all sides and under varying degrees of phericair-,over 'thatessential for the maintenance of perfect combustion beingundesirable, since it tends to cool the parts, as well as the gasesgenerally, and to render the blast of the products of combustion throughthe nozzle of the. cylinder less effective. 7

. I have found by investigation and experiment that in order to attainthe best and most perfect results air under atmospheric pressure must beadmitted in proximity to the blast of compressed air and so proportionedand regulated with relation thereto as to effecthydrocarbon-vaportension, an excess of atmosthe perfect combustion of the hydrocarbon-,

vapor disch arged by the'vaporizi ng-tube with-- in proximity to thecompressed-air-blast nozzle and in a plane above and parallel thereto bymeans of an adjustable rear'door or slide,

by which the admixture of air under atmospheric pressure with thecompressed-air blast may be regulated with accuracy to efiect thedesired result. Furthermore, by my present construction I effectuallyobviate all danger arising'from backpressure exerted by excessivewind-pressure at the front or nozzle of the torch, since by practicallyclosing the rear of the combustion-shell the only outlet under backpressure adjoins the compressedair nozzle, the blast from which issufficient to counteract the back pressure and protect the'inlet-openingadjusted for the admission of air under atmospheric pressure.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation ofomy improvedheater; Fig.2, a view of the rear of the extension-box; Fig. 3, acentral vertical longitudinal section of the heater; Fig. 4, a plan of'the rear of the heater; Fig. 5, a horizontal sectional elevation uponplane of line 4 4, Fig.1; Fig. 6, a View similar to Fig. 2, showing theslide raised for the admission of air under atmosphericpressure; Fig. 7,an isometrical view of the rear extension-box with the air gate or slideremoved; Fig. 8, a transverse section upon plane of line 8 8, Fig. 4.

A is the cylindrical shell in which the ordinary vaporizing-tube B issituated, said tube being fed through the supply-tube band beingprovided with the usual needle-valve V, through which the vaporizedhydrocarbon escapes under pressure to combine chemically with the airinjected in-tothe rear of the cylinder A, from which latter the productsof combustion are ejected through thenozzle N. The supply-pipe b,vaporizing-tube B, and needle-valve are similar to those heretoforeused, excepting that the screwshank 'v of the needle-valve V is formedwith a shoulder or abutment o to guard against the breaking or jammingof the needle-point by reason of undue pressure exerted in closing thevalve, as frequently occurs under the conditions of ordinary use. Mygage or abutment b not only limits the extent of motion inward, but alsoaffords visual evidence of the closing of the valve, so that theoperator is warned against the exercise of further pressure upon thehead of the screw-shank.

My extension-box E fits the rear end of the cylindrical shell, and itslower part eis adapted to hold a wick of asbestos or other suitablematerial to act as a vehicle for alcohol or other volatile andinflammable fluid, the flames from which are to be driven by theair-blast against the vaporizing-tube B and valve V.

The blast nozzle-pipe is secured in position at the rear of thestarting-cup 6, just below the edge e of the extension-box, and isformed with a series of openings 1), inclined toward the saidvaporizing-tube B and valve V. The nozzle-pipe P is supplied with airunder presthe air under pressure being obtained from any convenientsource, as from a tank or compression-pu mp, as set forth in myconcurrent application hereinbefore referred to. I prefer, however, toprovide means whereby an ordinary hand-bellows may be utilized in lieuof the hand-pump mentioned in said concurrent application, and for thisreason provide the nozzle-pipe P with a supply-pipe 11 formed with afunnel-shaped coupler p for the reception of the nose 1' of ahand-bellows I, a portion only of which is shown in the drawings. Theother pipe 1) may extend to any other source of compressed-air supply,valve p p being interposed in the pipes to enable one to be shut elfwhile the other is in use, or vice versa. By adapting the heater forconnection with an ordinary hand-bellows I am enabled to dispense withthe bulk and weight of a compressed-air tank or air-force pump or toprovide for an emergency in which either of the said sources ofcompressed air are not available.

The more important features of my invention, however, consist inproviding the extension-box E with an air gate or slide S, adapted to bewithdrawn bodily to give access to the needle-valve V or to be adjustedwith relation to the compressed-air nozzle P, so as to let more orlessair under atmospheric pressure into the box above said compressed-airnozzle P in a plane substantially parallel thereto, as will beunderstood by reference to Figs, 6 and 8 more particularly. Thus a sheetor layer of air under atmospheric pressure may be drawn in between thelower edge 3 of the gate and the edge e of the extension-box, justsufiicient to meet the requirements of the compressed-air blast by whichthe current of external air is induced and just sufficient to effecttherewith the perfect combination of the hydrocarbon-vapor ejectedthrough the needle-valve V and to force the products of combustion outof the nozzle N to perform the work desired. The gate S may be used as ameans of modifying the effective force of the compressed-air blast forthe purpose of regulating the discharge pressure through the nozzle N asnecessary, thus performing the double function of admitting air forcombustion and of regulating the excess of internal pressure over thatof the atmosphere. In fact, it performs a third function in that itprevents back draft that, might otherwise occur by reason of excess ofair-pressure (as wind) at the outer end of the nozzle N, since it to allintents and purposes closes the rear end of the cylindrical shell Aexcepting in so far as the comparatively narrow opening between thelower end 8 of the-gate S and the 7 upper rear edge e of theextension-box E is concerned, and as this space dis protected by thecompressed-air blast immediately in front of and below it there can beno reversal j of the flame. sure by means of one or more inlet-pipes p,

It is obvious that the slide-gate S may be mounted adjustably upon therear of the extension-box E by various well-known mechanical expedientswith like results. By way of illustration I show it in the accompanyingdrawings as formed with tongues s s, resting in grooves c e in the rearedges of the box E, and as formed with a lug s ,'through which anadjustingscrew '1 passes to bear against the upper side of the box, andthereby support the gate-slide S, with its lower edge 3 more or lessremoved from the edge e of the box E, as hereinbefore set forth. It isobvious that under certain conditions it may not be necessary to admitexternal air to the extension-box E, as where the air-blast is suitablein volume and pressure to effect the complete combustion of thehydrocarbon-vapor and the forcible discharge of the products ofcombustion, in which case the slide S may be advantageously kept closedand will then act simply to seal the rear of the cylindrical shell andthe extension-box E and maintain the excess of pressure therein.

It is obvious that by admitting air under atmospheric pressure inproximity to and substantially parallel to the compressed-air blast Iavoid irregularity in circulation and tension of air-currents within theheater and insure an even admixture of atmospheric and compressed air,the compressed-air jets just inside the edge e of the extension -box Esucking in a more or less thin even sheet or layer of the atmosphere andprojecting it directly against the vaporizingtube B and needle-valve Vin such manner as to positively effect the perfect combustion of thehydrocarbon-vapor and the expulsion of the products of combustionthrough the nozzle N.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the cylindrical shell, the vaporizing-tube,needle-valve, and hydrocarbon-supply pipe, the extension-box fitting onthe end of the cylindrical shell, the starting-cup formed in the lowerpart of the extension-box, the compressed-air nozzle situ-- ated insidethe extension-box and at the back of the starting-cup, means forsupplying compressed air to said nozzle, and an adjustable gate-slidehaving a lug extending over the top of the box and a screw passedthrough said lug and engaging the top of the box for regulating theamount of air under atmospheric pressure admitted to the extension boxin proximity to the compressed-air nozzle, substantially as and for thepurpose herein set forth.

2. The combination of the cylindrical shell, thevaporizing-pipe,needle-valve, and pipe for supplying hydrocarbonthereto, the extension-box fitting on the rear end of the oylindricalshell, the starting-cup formed in the lower part of the extension-box,the compressedair nozzle situated below the rear edge of thestarting-cup, agate-slide situated at the rear side of the extension-boxand zgahaying a horizontal lug extending over the top ofth'eboxrandmeans engaging said'lng and the top of the box for adjusting saidgateslide with relation to the rear edge of the startlng-cnp for thepurpose of regulating the ad mission of air under atmospheric pressureto the extension box, substantially as described. w

3. The combination of the cylindrical shell A, the vaporizing-tube B,the needle-valveV, the hydrocarbon supply-pipeb, the extensionbox E,fitting the end of the cylindrical shell A, the starting-cup e, thecompressed-air nozzle P, formed with the inclined passages p, means forsupplying compressed air to the said nozzle P, the bodily-removablegate-slide S, and means for adjusting it with relation to the rear edgee, of the starting-cup e, substantially in the manner and for thepurpose set forth. y

4.. The combination with the cylindrical shell A, vaporizing-tube Bextending length- Wise within said shell, needle-Valve V in the end ofsaid tube, supply-pipe b, the extensionbox E, formed withthestarting-cup, the compressed-air nozzle 1? disposed within said boxand extending transversely along the edge thereof, and thesupply-pipeconnected there'- with and formed with the funnel-shapedcoupling 11 for the reception of the nose of a handbellows,substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

ABBOT AUGUSTUS LOW. Witnesses:

D. WM. GARDNER, GEO. WM. MIATT.

